Holder for towels and the like



Jan. 23, 1934. HERMAN 1,944,343

HOLDER FOR TOWELS AND THE LIKE Filed April 6. 1933 l/VVENTOR lid A TTORNEY Patented Jan. 23, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT err-ICE V Glaims.

My invention relates to improvements in holders for towels and the like. a

One object of my invention is to provide a novel holder of the kind described, which is 5 simple, cheap, strong, durable, not likely to get out of order, which securely holds the towel or other article and yet permits of its easy release for use.

a My invention provides further a novel con struction adapted for easy and secure attachment to the usual towel racks of different diameters, and which, when two of them are mounted on a towel rack, will hold a towel stretched and in convenient form for use without removal from.

the rack and without liability of being accidentally withdrawn therefrom My invention further provides a device of novel character adapted to hold separately releasable a plurality of towels.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing illustrative of my invention, v

Fig. 1 is an edge elevation of a holder embodying one form of my invention which embodies a revoluble ball as an article engaging means.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the holder shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the holder shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a reduced edge elevation of a holder of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3, shown mounted on a towel rack ofusual type, shown in cross section, a portion of a towel or like article being 35. shownsupported by the holder.

Fig. 5 is a reduced top view of a usual towel rack having thereon two of my improved holders.

' Fig. 6 is anedge elevation of a modification of my invention shown attached to a Wall.

Fig. 7 is a further modification of my invention showing in edge elevation a holder adapted to support independently a plurality of towels or the like.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7, showing a further modification adapted for holding a plurality of towels or the like.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the different views.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, the holder shown therein comprises a bar 1 the end portions 2 of which are arcuate and have their concave sides facing each other and adapted to clamp between them a supporting member, such as the transverseportion 3 of a towel rack 4 of usual type, Figs. 4 and 5.

In cases where the transverse portion 3 is relatively of small diameter, as in Fig. 4, a soft rubber filler 5 may be interposed between the end portions 2 and the portion 3.

Between the end portions of the bar 1, the bar is provided with a U shaped portion the arms 6 and 7 of which diverge outwardly from a corn tracted inner portion adapted to receive a towel or like article 8, Fig. 4, between the arms 6 and 7.

For gripping the transverse portion 3 of the towel rack with the end portions 2, the latter have extending through them adjacent to their outer ends a screw 9 the head of which bears against the outer side of one of the arms, a nut 10 on the screw bearing against the outer side of the otherrportion 2. The screw 9 and nut 10 serve to adjust the portions 2 toward each other and to hold them from spreading from the clamping positions to which they may be adjusted. I

The arm 6 has therethrough a hole 11, Fig. 2, in which is revoluble and movable toward the arm 7 a ball 12, which is normally forced yieldingly toward the arm 7 by a coil spring 13, one end of which bears against the ball 12 and the other end of which bears on the bar 1. The arm 7 may be provided, as shown, with a recess 14 0f small depth in which the ball seats when there is no towel or the likeheld between the arms 6 and 7. This recess 14, however, may be eliminated. When present, it serves to retain a little more securely the article held,

A projection 15 on the bar 1 enters the coil spring 13 to hold the spring from shifting on the bar.

Two portions of the bar 1, designated by 16, between the arms 2 and the U shaped portion 6--7, are fastened together by a rivet 17 or spot welding.

When desired, two of the holders may be clamped on the transverse part 3 of the towel 95 rack 4, as is shown in Fig. 5, and a towel may be held stretched and supported by the two holders.

In use, the towel 8 is slipped between the arms 6 and 7 past the ball 12 and into the contracted space at the inner side of the ball. The ball 12 will hold the towel against the arm 7, the spring 13 serving to force the ball tightly against the towel. By pulling outwardly, the towel may be removed, the spring 13 yielding to permit the ball to retract and release the towel. I

In the form shown in Fig. 7, a plurality, three, of the U shaped portions each having arms 6 and 7, corresponding in form and function to those shown in Figs. 1 to 4. These U shaped 110 portions are disposed, as shown, in a row. Each arm 6 is provided with a hole in which is located a ball 12, which is forced by a coil spring 13 into a recess 14 in the adjacent arm 7, and each spring 13 is held from slipping in the bar 1 by a projection 15 on the bar, as in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

The bar 1 in Fig. '7 has arcuate end portions 2 facing each other and adapted to clamp a supporting member, and they are adjusted toward each other and held in their adjusted positions by a screw 9 provided with a nut 10, as in the form shown in Fig. 1. The portions 16 of the bar adjacent to the end portions 2 are fastened together by a rivet 17 or by spot welding.

In the form shown in Fig. 8, the construction of the holder is similar to that shown in Fig. '7, the holder being provided with three U shaped portions arranged as are those in the form shown in Fig. 7, the balls 12 and springs 13 being eliminated in the form shown in Fig. 8. In this form, each U shaped portion has an arm '7 provided with a recess 14 adapted to have forced into it a portion of a towel to be held. The cooperating arm 6', corresponding in function to the arm 6 of Fig. 1, has an arcuate portion 18 registering with the recess 14, and which serves to force the towel or other article into the recess.

In the form shown in Fig; 8, the bar 1 has end portions 2 corresponding in form and function to those already described, and these portions are adjusted to and held in their adjusted positions by a screw 9 having a nut 10 in the same manner as the corresponding parts in the forms shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The bar 1 has the portions 16 adjacent to the end portions 2 fastened together by a rivet 1'7 or by spot welding, as in theforms already described. The rivet 17 holds end fastened as by screws 19 to a wall 20. bar 1' isprovided with a U shaped portion havthe end portions 2' from spreading after being clamped upon a supporting member.

In each of the forms shown in Figs. 1, '7 and 8, the bar 1 is resilient, so that when a towel or the like is inserted between the arms of a U shaped portion, the resiliency of the arms will, due to the towel spreading the arms, assist in gripping the inserted article.

In the form shown in Fig. 6, thebarl has one lhe ing arms 6 and '7.

The outer end of the arm 7, which is also one end of the bar'l, bears against the wall 20. The arms 6 and 7 are the same in structure and mode of operation as the correspondingly designated arms in the forms shown in Figs. 1 and '7. The

arm 7 is provided with a recess 14 adapted to receive a ball 12 which is held by a coil spring 13 against a towel or the like inserted between the arms, the ball 12 being located in a hole in the arm 6.

'A projection 15 on the bar '1' enters the adjacent end of the spring 13 and holds the spring from shifting. The bar 1' is resilient, so that when a towel or the like is inserted between the arms 6 and 7, the resiliency of the bar will assist the ball 12 in holding a towel thick enough to tend to spread apart the arms.

Other modifications of my invention, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I-claim is:--

1. A holder'for towels andthe like comprisa bar having its end portions facing each other and spaced apart and adjustable toward and from each other and adapted to clamp between them a supporting member, said bar having a U shaped portion adapted to receive between its arms a towel 'or the like, adjustable means connecting said end portions for adjusting them toward each other and for holding them from spreading from their adjusted positions, and means carried by one of said arms and including a revoluble ball adapted to bear against and hold said towel or the like against the other of said arms.

3. A holder for towels and the like comprising a bar having its end portions facing each other' and spaced apart and adjustable toward and from each other and adapted to clamp between them a supporting member, said bar having a U shaped portion adapted to receive between its arms a towel or the like, adjustable means connecting said end portions for adjusting them toward each other and for holding them from spreading from their adjusted positions, one of said arms having a hole therethrough, a ball revoluble and movable in said hole toward the other of said arms, and resilient means normally forcing said ball toward said other arm, said ball being adapted to bear against and hold said towel or the like towardsaid other arm.

4. A holder for towels and the like comprising a bar having means for attaching it to a support and having U shaped portions adapted each to receive between its arms a towel or the like, one arm of each of said portions having therethrough a hole, balls respectively revoluble and movable in said holes toward the others respectively of said arms and adapted to respectively bear against inserted towels or the like and hold them against said other arms respectively, and resilient means normally forcing said balls toward said other arms respectively.

5. A holder for towels or the like-comprising a bar having its end portions facing eachother and spaced apart and adjustable toward and from each other and adapted to clamp between them a supporting member, said bar having U shaped portions adapted to receive between their arms respectively towels or the like, one of the arms of each of said'portions having therethrough a hole, balls respectively revoluble and movable in said holes toward the other of saidarms and adapted to bear ADOLPH F. HERMAN. 

